The GnATTERbox

A general talking shop for any subject under the sun (even Monty Python). This would also be a good place to make suggestions about the site itself or about these forums (or "fora", if you're particularly pedantic).

Sorry I've been a bit busy with other things and not been on here as much as I would like. I'm about to go and spend six months in Thailand and been getting things here sorted out ready. I'm hoping I'll have a little more time there and can catch up on the maintenance of the forum software, but am not 100% sure how good my internet access will be.

Which brings me to the point of this missive. I need to start collecting donations to cover our hosting costs. I'd like to get enough so I can pay for a year in advance, so that if I do have problems I'm not having to find a way to connect at the right time every month - I only get a window of about 5 days between the issuing the bill and them cutting access off.

This means we need to find $240 - though I believe I may get a 10% discout if we pay in advance.

OK I think we are there now. Assuming we can get a 10% discount on annual hosting, we have enough to pay for a full year from Jan 20th when the renewal is next due. Will talk to them and arrange it.

Still got slightly iffy internet access, but that should be better in a week or so.

I'm mulling over the best way to do this in future - shall we look at making this an annual event or explore other avenues, like putting advertising on the forum?

Photo hosting: The problem with using the internal forum hosting is that it's incompatible with using the same photos elsewhere on the internet.My solution was to set up photo hosting within the gn15.info domain, so it could then be used internally in the forum or externally on other forums like NGRM Online. We won't lose this unless we lose the forum also.

The software we need for this has two options. We use it for free, but get no support if we have problems and we must retain their branding and name. Alternatively we can pay a one off cost of 90 euros and get lifetime support, access to the source code and the ability to reformat it and put our name on it.

If few are using it it's not worth spending the money, but if it is something that lots might use, then maybe it is better to get a full licence.

Tom

To know the meaning of life you need not to be dealt a good hand, but rather to play the worthless hand you have been dealt to the best of your ability.